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19
Handicap and Observation Register
During the year details of pre-school children already on the Handicap
and Observation Register were transferred to a Kalamazoo punch card system to
facilitate statistical analysis and systematic follow-up. Work was also in
progress to record information of handicapped school children. For all new
births, the hospital discharge slips with details of pregnancy and delivery
are scrutinised and where appropriate babies are placed on the Observation
Register. If the Medical Officer subsequently reports that the child's
development has proceeded normally the child is removed from the Register.
If however a handicapping condition is found the child's name is retained on
the Handicap Register. The Kalamazoo category numbers are ascertained by the
Medical Officers following examination of the baby and Medical Officers are
responsible for initial notification to the Register and also for sending in
information of significant alterations to these details. To keep the Register
"live" all children are reviewed annually at about their month of birth.
It is planned that the computer scheme, due to commence on 1st January 1970
for children born from that date, will include details of handicaps and
observation factors.
During 1969 a total of 352.1 sessions were devoted to the dental care of
expectant and nursing mothers, and children under the age of five years. Of
the total number of sessions, 43 were utilised for dental health education.
The dental auxiliary has successfully continued to provide dental health
instruction at toddlers' clinics. In this way mothers are made aware of the
need to prevent dental decay at just the time when they are normally tending
to increase the quantities of sweets, cakes and biscuits to their children.
The mothers are also warned of the very harmful effect of concentrated vitamin
juices which they put in bottles and feeders for their offspring. The dental
auxiliary discusses dental health with each mother whilst she is waiting to
see the doctor. In addition, an appointment is offered for her child to have
a full inspection and treatment if this is needed, unless he already goes to
the family dentist.
The number of children inspected in 1969 was less than the previous year
which is a little disappointing. In an effort to counteract this, medical
officers and health visitors have been asked to make a special effort to refer
all pre-school children who do not already attend a dentist. In addition the
"go-ahead" has been given to introduce a dental birthday card for the 3-yearolds.
This will remind parents of the need for all children to visit the
dentist by the time they have reached this age. It is hoped to send these
cards out in the early part of next year. As has previously been pointed out
such an inspection service is absolutely essential for young children. It is
too late to leave it until they go to school, as can be seen from the following
figures. The number of children requiring treatment went up and will no doubt
remain high until they receive the benefit of fluoridated water.
During the year a sample of over 1,000 five-year-old children was
examined.
The following results were noted:-
DENTAL SERVICE
Number of children 1,170
Total number of decayed and untreated teeth 2,816
Number of these requiring extraction 151
Number of missing teeth 537
Number of filled teeth . 505
The average child thus had a total of at least 3.3 teeth which were
decayed, missing and/or filled at the time of entering school. Had the